Clay-ware shaping machine with adjustable tool supporting means

ABSTRACT

An improved machine for producing ceramic flatwear by shaping clay pieces to a plaster mould carried on a rotatable mould support using a roller shaping tool. The improvement which reflects itself in increased production is obtained by inclusion of means for raising the mould support to a uniform height in successive operating cycles of the machine and means for providing vertical adjustment of the tool with respect to the mould during operation of the machine.

Unite States ate Bradshaw et a1.

15] 3,655,31 [451 Apr. 11,1972

CLAY-WARE SHAPING MACHINE WITH ADJUSTABLE TOOL SUPPORTING MEANSInventors: Arthur Bradshaw; Frank William Meadows, both ofStoke-on-Trent, England Assignee: Service (Engineers) Limited, Cobridge,

Stoke-on-Trent, England Filed: Mar. 3, 1970 Appl. No.1 16,233

Foreign Application Priority Data Mar. 7, 1969 Great Britain ..12,067/69U.S. Cl ..425/267, 25/26 Int. Cl ..B28b 1/02 Field of Search ..25/26,24, 25

Primary Examiner-Robert D. Baldwin Attorney-Richard A Wise, Richard B.Megley and Cornelius A. Cleary [57] ABSTRACT An improved machine forproducing ceramic flatwear by shaping clay pieces to a plaster mouldcarried on a rotatable mould support using a roller shaping tool. Theimprovement which reflects itself in increased production is obtained byinclusion of means for raising the mould support to a uniform height insuccessive operating cycles of the machine and means for providingvertical adjustment of the tool with respect to the mould duringoperation of the machine.

10 Claims, 1 1 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR 11 I972 3.655319 InveniorsArziz ur' Brads/2 a w Frank WMeadows By zheir Afforney PATENTED APR 1 1I972 SHEET on HF 11 PATENTEDAPR 11 I972 3,655,319

SHEET DSUF 11 fikum \\1\ PATENTED R H 1912 655,3 1 9 sum 09m 11VPATENTEDAPR 1 1 I972 SHEET 10 0F 11 QRQ This invention is concernedwith improvements in or relating to machines adapted for use in themanufacture of ceramic ware; the phrase ceramic ware is used herein todenote ware made by a process in which a material having a clay basis isformed to a required shape while in a moist plastic condition and isdried and then fired at a high temperature to render it hard and waterresistant. The invention is especially, but not exclusively, concernedwith machinery adapted for use in the manufacture of pottery flatware(which term is used herein generically to include plates and saucers) bymeans of a roller shaping tool.

In recent years, increasing use has been made in the pottery industry ofroller flatware-making machines for shaping moist clay on plastermoulds. The expression roller flatware-making machine where used hereinis to be understood as denoting a machine of a type comprising arotatable mould support, a support for a roller shaping tool ofgenerally conical shape, means for rotating the mould support and thetool, and means for causing relative movement of approach to take placebetween the tool and a piece of clay on a mould on the mould support inthe operation of the machine whereby the clay is worked by the tool andcaused to spread over the surface of the mould.

United Kingdom patent specifications Nos. 621712 and 765097, forexample, describe roller flatware-making machines in which the mouldsupport is carried by a spindle rotatable about a vertical axis and theroller shaping tool is mounted on an arm arranged to rock about ahorizontal axis to bring the tool into working engagement with the clayin the operation of the machine.

Whereas roller flatware-making machines hitherto commercially availablehave been satisfactory for some of the contemporaneous requirements ofthe pottery industry, there have been limitations, depending to someextent on the clay bodies used, in the sizes and shapes of pieces ofware that can be reliably and uniformly made on the machines withoutreducing their output to well below the normal production rate of, forexample, 12 pieces per minute for each roller tool. Moreover, practicehas shown that significant production time is lost in potteries where avariety of shapes of ware are to be made on a roller flatware-makingmachine owing to the period for which the machine must necessarily beidle while the roller tool is changed and the machine set up again andput in condition for operation on each fresh shape; adjustments forre-setting the machine after a tool change have involved reaching partsof the machine to which it would be difficult to gain access if themachines were to form part of an automatic production line withmechanical conveyor means linking the machine with other machines and adrying unit.

It is one of the various objects of the present invention to provide animproved roller flatware-making machine which enables ware to be mademore uniformly and reliably at a higher rate of output or with a widerrange of clay bodies than has usually been obtainable hitherto.

It is another of the various objects of the present invention to providean improved roller flatware-making machine so constructed and arrangedas to permit quicker setting up for a change of shape than has usuallybeen the practice hitherto.

It is yet another of the various objects of the present invention toprovide an improved roller flatware-making machine which can readily beaccommodated in an automatic production line.

There now follows a detailed description, to be read with reference tothe accompanying drawings of a machine illustrative of the invention. Itwill be realised that this illustrative machine has been selected fordescription by way of example and not of limitation of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. I is a view in perspective of the illustrative machine;

FIG. 2 is a view in plan, partly broken away and partly in section, ofthat part of the illustrative machine which lies below a table thereof;

FIG. 3 is a view in front elevation and partly in section of part of theillustrative machine including a mould support;

FIG. 4 is a view in right-hand side elevation and largely in section ofa roller shaping tool and support therefor of the illustrative machine;

FIG. 5 is a view in front elevation and partly in section of a columnupstanding from the table of the illustrative machine 7 and on which thetool support is mounted with provision for vertical adjustment;

FIG. 6 is a view in right-hand side elevation and partly in section ofthe column and mounting means shown in F IG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view in front elevation showing means of theillustrative machine for tilting the roller shaping tool about ahorizontal axis;

FIG. 8 is a view in plan of the illustrative machine in part broken awayand in part largely in section on the line VIII VIII of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary view in section on the line IX -IX IX of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary view of a trimming tool assembly of theillustrative machine; and

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary view of means of the illustrative machine forlubricating a profile of the roller shaping tool.

The figures of the drawings are not all drawn to the same scale.

The illustrative machine is shown generally in FIG. 1 and comprises arectangular housing 20 made largely of angled and channel-shaped barscased in by side panels and a horizontal table 22 and arranged to standupon the floor. At a central rearward position, a hollow cast column 24of the machine stands up from the table 22. A mould support 26 ismounted on the housing 20 for rotation about a vertical axis, and isreciprocable along such axis, and a roller shaping tool 28 is carried bytool-supporting means comprising a supporting head 30 mounted on thecolumn 24 with provision for vertical adjustment and for tilting about ahorizontal axis.

Bearings 32 (FIG. 2) mounted in the housing 20 of the illustrativemachine provide support for a horizontal cam shaft 34 which is disposedwith its axis extending forwardly and rearwardly of the machine; theshaft thus extends from left to right as viewed in FIG. 2. At itsrearward end, the cam shaft 34 is received in a gear reduction unit 36driven by an electric motor 38 which drives the shaft 34 anticlockwise(as viewed in FIG. 3).

The mould support 26 of the illustrative machine comprises a cup-shapedannulus 40 (FIG. 3) the upper margin of which is bevelled on the insideat 42 to provide a seating for a metal ring R on which a mould M sits inthe operation of the machine. Such a ring R may, as indicated in FIG. 3,form part of conveyor means for automatically presenting moulds to theillustrative machine.

A piece of clay P, which is to be shaped in the operation of theillustrative machine is shown in position on the mould in FIG. 3.

The annulus 40 of the illustrative machine is bolted to a flange 44 atthe upper end of a vertical spindle 46, the flange resting on an innersleeve 48 of a roller thrust bearing 50, the outer sleeve of which issupported by an annular internal lip 52 part way down a hollowcylindrical casting 54. The casting 54 is slidable vertically in abearing sleeve 56 which has an external flange 58 bolted to theunderside of a boss 60 integral with the table 22. A vertical keyway 62in the wall of the casting 54 accommodates a key 64 bolted to the sleeve56 to prevent the casting from rotating about its vertical axis. Anannular cap 66 is fitted on the top of the casting 54 around the flange44 with an annular seal 68 between the cap and the inner bearing sleeve48 to protect the bearing from dust.

A reduced diameter lower end portion of the casting 54 of theillustrative machine has diametrically opposed flat-faced bosses 70 fromwhich integral pins 72 project in opposite directions. The pins 72 arereceived in longitudinally disposed slots 74 at right-hand ends of twoparallel arms 76 (see also FIG. 2) of a composite lever 78 pivoted atits left hand end to a bracket 80 supported by the housing 20. At anintermediate position, the arm 76 of the lever 78 are joined by a bolt82 which carries a spacer 84 between the arms 76 and at each end, beyondthe arms, a bearing for a roller 86. The two rollers 86 rest on theperipheries of two similar cams 88 secured to the shaft 34 in radialregister with one another. Each cam 88 comprises a part-annular portionwith a parallel sided portion cut away to allow the cam to be passedover the shaft 34 and with three holes 90 tapped to receive bolts 92which pass through three arcuate slots 94 in a flanged collar 96 securedto the shaft. Thus the cams can readily be detached from the shaft ofillustrative machine and replaced by others, and can be adjusted through60 about the axis of the shaft, as permitted by the slots 94. Thus in acycle of operation of the illustrative machine in which the shaft 34rotates once, the lever 78 rises and falls to raise and lower thecasting 54, the cams determining the limit of approach of a mould on themould support towards the tool in the operation of the machine. Boltedto one side of one of the cams 88 is a beak 98 a face 99 of which isarranged to ride against a roller 100, carried by a depending bracket102 on the lever 78 when the casting 54 is in its raised position and toforce it downwardly if it does not readily so fall sufiiciently quicklyunder gravity in the operation of the machine.

The spindle 46 of the illustrative machine passes through a bearing (notshown) at the lower end of the casting 54, the spindle being threaded toreceive a nut 112 to prevent axial displacement of the spindle relativeto the casting. Above the last-mentioned bearing, a chamber (not shown)within the casting surrounds the spindle 46 and is sealed above andbelow a transverse bore through the shaft which connects with an axialbore 103 which opens into the annulus 40, its exit being covered by afilter 104. The aforesaid chamber is connected by a bore through thecasting 54 with a tubular outlet 106 to which is attached a flexiblehose 108. The hose 108 leads to a suction pump which is arranged towithdraw air from the annulus 40 beneath a mould M in the operation ofthe illustrative machine. A reduced diameter portion of the spindle 46of the illustrative machine depends below the nut 112 and has a verticalkeyway 114 to accommodate keys 116 of an inner, rotatable sleeve 118 ofa roller bearing, an outer sleeve 120 of which is supported by bracketsin the housing 20. The outer sleeve 120 supports, through ball races122, 124, a pulley 126 freely rotatable on the sleeve 120 about the axisof the spindle 46. The inner sleeve 118 has at its lower end a flange128 (formed with a peripheral groove so that it can serve as a pulley),the sleeve 118 being displaceable vertically relative to the outersleeve 120 and constantly urged downwardly by spring pressed plungers130 (one only shown in H6. 3) bearing on a ball race 132 inserted in theflange 128. A friction disc 134 is boited to the upper end portion ofthe sleeve 118 and has a downwardly facing annular friction pad 136opposing an annular upper face of the pulley 126. The pulley 126 isdriven continually while the illustrative machine is in use by a V-belt138 at an infinitely variable speed from an adjustable two-part pulley140 on a shaft of an electric motor 142. The two parts of the pulley areurged together by spring means (not shown) and adjustment of the speedof the shaft 46 is effected by swinging an arm 141 on which the motor142 is mounted towards and away from the shaft 46. The arm 141 ispivoted to the housing 20 at 143, and a rod 145 rotatably mounted on thehousing in bearings 147, 149 (the rod having a shoulder which abuts thebearing 149 to prevent its axial displacement to the right) is threadedinto a finger 151 pivoted to the arm 141. Thus, by turning the rod 145,which is accessible at the left-hand side of the machine, the motor 142can be shifted to vary the speed of the shaft 46.

The sleeve 118 and friction disc 134 are held, when the illustrativemachine is at rest, in a raised position against the action of theplungers 130 by a brake disc 144 having an annular brake lining 146engageable with an underface of the flange 128 of the sleeve 118. Thedisc 144 is mounted to slide up and down on three headed posts 148 (oneonly visible in FIG. 3) depending from the sleeve 120; compressionsprings 150 disposed diametrically opposite the posts act between thesleeve and disc 144 to urge the disc constantly downwardly. The disc 144has a central hole to allow clearance for the spindle 46. Two pins 152project forwardly and rearwardly from the disc 144 and rest on yokedarms 154 of a lever 156 pivoted on the housing 20 at 158. An arm 160 ofthe lever which projects forwardly (i.e., to the left viewing FIG. 3)adjustably carries a support 162 for a cam roll 164. The roll 164engages the periphery of a cam 166 on the shaft 34, being constantlyurged upwardly into engagement with the lower surface of the cam by thelever 156 under the influence of the springs 150 acting on the disc 144.The cam 166 is adjustable about the axis of the shaft 34, being securedby bolts to an arcuately slotted collar in the same manner as the camsWhen the illustrative machine is at rest between cycles of operation,the disc 144 is held in an uppermost position by the lever 156, the discacting as a brake by frictional engagement with the sleeve 118 which ithas raised out of contact with the pulley 126. Rocking of the lever 156clockwise under the influence of the cam 166 allows the disc 144 to belowered out of contact with the sleeve 118, which, being urgeddownwardly by the plungers 130, is rotated to drive the spindle 46 byengagement of the disc 134 with the pulley 126. The drive to the spindleis disengaged and the brake applied when, on continued rotation of theshaft 34, the cam 166 rocks the lever 156 anticlockwise.

Turning now to F IG. 4, the roller shaping tool 28 of the illustrativemachine comprises a circular plate to which is keyed at 181 and bolted aconical stub 182 terminating in a cylindrical sleeve 184 with an axialtapped bore to receive a bolt 186. The stub 182 of the roller tool 28 isaccommodated in a complementary shaped recess in a shaft 188 rotatablymounted in roller thrust bearings 190, 192 of the supporting head 30.The shaft 188 is hollow and the bolt 186 passes through it to hold theroller tool firmly in position. A driving lug 194 bolted to the shaft188 at its lower end is received in a recess in a flange of the stub 182to key the tool to the shaft to ensure that rotary motion is transmittedfrom the shaft to the roller tool 28 without relative displacement.

The roller tool 28 of the illustrative machine also comprises, securedto the plate 180 by bolts 196 (one only shown in FIG. 4) a circularmetal holder 198 for six electrical cartridge heaters 200 accommodatedin radially disposed bores 202 in the holder. The heaters are connectedtwo by two in series, each of the three pairs being connected inparallel to two terminals 208, one only visible FIG. 4. Each terminal208 is mounted in an insulating body 210 secured to an insulating insert212 in the holder 198 so that the terminal projects upwardly through oneof two holes 212 in the plate 180. Above and opposite to each terminal208, is a terminal 214 against which the terminals 208 make abuttingcontact when the roller tool is assembled on the supporting head 30 andthe bolt 186 tightened. The terminals 214 are mounted on a collar 218secured by a grub screw 219 to the shaft 188 and connected through leadsto rings 216 mounted on an insulating sleeve on the shaft 188 andthrough which electricity is conducted to the cartridge heaters frombrushes (not shown) bearing on the rings and connected to a source ofcurrent.

Bolts (not shown) passing freely through holes in the holder 198 securea profile 222 of the roller tool to the plate 180.

An annular groove 224 and vertical passage 226 in the shaft are providedfor the electrical leads to the terminals 214. A temperature sensitiveprobe (not shown) is also provided in the tool 28 of the illustrativemachine in contact with the inner, upper, surface of the profile 222,the leads therefrom passing through a set of terminals similar to theterminals 208, 214 and through the passage 246 to two of the rings 216and thence to means for controlling the current to the heaters 200 tomaintain the profile at a uniform, or a substantially uniform, operatingtemperature.

The foregoing arrangement is such that the roller tool 28, including theplate 180 and stub 182, can readily be detached from the supporting head30 of the illustrative machine by unscrewing the bolt 186; thus changingof the roller tool for one of a different shape can be effected byimmediate replacement by another tool which, by supplying electricalcurrent to the terminals 208, can already have been warmed up beforestopping the machine to make the change, thus enabling the machine to beput into service again without delay due to the time necessary to heatup a cold profile. Alternatively, the profile 222 alone can readily bedetached by unscrewing the bolts securing the profile 222 to the holder198 and the plate 180.

The profile 222 of the illustrative machine is generally conical with anobtuse apical angle. Interdigitating radial lugs on abutting sides ofthe profile 222, holder 198 and plate 180 ensure transmission of rotarymotion from the shaft 188 to the profile 222.

The supporting head 30 of the illustrative machine comprises a casting230 having parallel vertical sides bridged by upper and lower webs 232,234 respectively, the head 30 overhanging the mould support 26. Theupper web provides a recessed boss 236 in which the bearing 192 isseated and retained by a ring 238 bolted to the boss and bearing on anouter casing of the bearing. The shaft 188 is threaded to receive a nut240 which bears on the inner casing of the bearing. Integral with thelower web 234 is a cylindrical housing 242 in which the bearing 190 andcollar 218 are accommodated, together with a sleeve 246 which carries asealing ring 248. A protective panel 244 covers the front of the casting230.

The supporting head 30 of the illustrative machine also comprises atwo-part hollow support 250 (FIG. 4) provided by front and rear castings252, 254 bolted together by bolts 256 (FIG. 7). The casting 230 ismounted for up and down adjustment on the front casting 252; thus a rearface of the casting 230 has a slide portion comprising a longitudinaldove-tailed tongue 258 (FIG. 8) which is received in a groove 260 in aguide portion of the front casting 252, one side of the tongue matingwith a complementary wall of the groove, and the other with acomplementary face of a wedge 262 which mates with an inclined wall 264of the groove 260. The wedge 262 can be loosened or tightened in thegroove to release the casting 230 or secure it firmly in adjustingheightwise position by turning a bolt 266 (FIG. 4) captive (with)freedom to rotate but not to move axially) in a lip 268 of the casting252 at the bottom of the groove. An adjusting screw 270 captive in anupper wall of the casting 252 is threaded into a lug 272 projectingrearwardly from the casting 230 through an upwardly and downwardlyextending slot 274 in the casting 252 opening into the groove tofacilitate heightwise adjustment of the casting 230 when the wedge isloosened.

The casting 254 (FIGS. 1 and 8) is pivotally mounted on a reduced endportion of a horizontal shaft 276 (FIG. 6) supported by a roller bearing278 in a block 280 accommodated in the column 24. The shaft 276 is heldin the block by spring washers 282 which bear on a ball race 284 mountedin the block, a bolt 286 passing through an annular cap 288, which bearson the washers near their periphery, and into a tapped bore in theshaft; the shaft has an integral flange 290 which overlaps an innersleeve of the bearing 278 to limit retraction of the shaft. A coverplate 292 surrounds the shaft 276 and is secured to the block 280 byscrews 294 (FIG. 5). The block 280 (FIG. 8) has a vertical dove-tailtongue 296 at each side slideable in grooves 298 of the column 24; twovertical threaded shafts 300 (FIG. 5) are received in tapped bores inthe block to enable the block to be adjusted lengthwise in the groove298. The shafts 300 are rotatable in holes in a bridge piece 302 of thecolumn, compression springs 304 acting between collars 306 on the shaftsbelow the bridge piece and a flat upper surface of the block. Pinions308 are fixed to the shafts above the bridge piece and mesh with acommon pinion 310 secured to a vertical shaft 312 which projects abovethe column 24 and is provided with a hand wheel 314. Thus, by turningthe hand wheel 314 the heightwise position of the block 280 in thecolumn can be adjusted. Wedges 316 extending longitudinally in thegrooves 298 to engage front surfaces of the tongues 296 enable the blockto be firmly secured in its adjusted position by tightened bolts 318which pass through side wallsof the column (FIG. 8).

The column 24 has a flat front vertical bearing plate 320 which extendsbeyond the left-hand side wall of the column as seen at 322 in FIGS. 5and 7. The plate 320 provides a surface against which bear three rollers324 mounted on the casting 254 so as to project from the rear sidethereof, the roller axes being radial to the shaft 276.

Means of the illustrative machine whereby the support 250 is adjustableupon the shaft 276 about the axis of the shaft, and whereby thesupporting head 30 is rocked, in the operation of the machine, aboutthis axis, which lies at right angles to the axis of the mould support26, will now be described. Received in an annular recess in the casting254 surrounding the shaft 276 is a ball thrust bearing 330 (FIGS. 4 and8) against a front side of which bears a brush portion 332 of a lever334 having a depending arm 336 (FIG. 7). The portion 332 of the lever isrecessed to receive a front end portion of the shaft 276. Two bolts 338passing through holes in the portion 332 and threaded into the endportion of the shaft hold the lever 334 on the shaft and act through thebearing 330 to hold the casting 254 in position, thus to retain thesupporting head 30 on the shaft 276. The rollers 324 on the casting 254are thus urged resiliently against the plate 320 under the influence ofthe spring washers 282. The lever 334 has an arcuate channel 339 at itsrear side which accommodates the rollers 324 (FIG. 7).

The bush portion 332 of the lever 334 has an arcuate recess 340 at itsupper rear side which accommodates a worm wheel gear sector 342 (FIG. 7)secured to the lever by bolts 344 (FIG. 4). The sector 342 has twoarcuate slots 346 with upper and lower walls which converge towards thefront of the sector and in the slots are received tapered rectangularnuts 348 in which are threaded bolts 350 which pass through bosses 352(FIG. 4) projecting from the rear side of the front casting 252 of thesupport 250, the bolts 350 being tightened to hold the leer 334 andsupport 250 rigidly together. The arrangement is such that by looseningthe bolts 350, the support 250 (and the supporting head 30 as a whole)can be rotatably adjusted, relative to the lever 334, about the axis ofthe shaft 276. To facilitate such adjustment, a worm 354 in mesh withthe gear sector 342 is mounted on a transverse shaft 356 rotatable inthe casting 254 and provided, at one end portion which projects from theright-hand side of the casting, with a knob 358 by which the shaft canbe turned. This adjustment provides for the roller tool axis to bevaried between the vertical and an inclination (anticlockwise as viewedfrom the front of the illustrative machine) of 30 independently of thedepending arm 336 of the lever 334.

With the supporting head 30 of the illustrative machine secured to thelever 334 in adjusted inclination by the nuts and bolts 348, 350, thelever is rocked to tilt the head 30 and roller tool 28 in the operationof the machine by a cam 362 on the shaft 34 (FIG. 7). The cam 362 isadjustable in the same manner as the cams 88 about the axis of theshaft, and, like the cams 88, readily detachable from a flanged collar.The cam 362 is engaged peripherally by a roller 364 carried on a slide366 mounted for horizontal movement in guides 368, 370 supported by thehousing 22. Cylindrical end portions of the slide 366 are received inbores in the guides, a pin 376 projecting transversely through a slot378 in the guide 370 to hold the slide upright. The slide 366 has avertical abutment face 372 which is engaged by a roller 374 mounted on alower yoked end portion of the arm 336 of the lever 334. Springs 380acting between the lever 334 and the housing 20 constantly urge thelever in a clockwise direction about the axis of the shaft 276 and theroller tool 28 into the most upright position to which it is adjusted.Thus, in each cycle of operation of the illustrative machine, the head30 rocks once anticlockwise and returns to its upright position, and thetiming of such tilting in relation to the lifting of the mould support26 is determined by the setting of the cams 88 and the cam 362.

The roller shaping tool 28 of the illustrative machine is drivencontinuously in the operation of the machine by an electric motor 384(FIGS. 1 and 8) mounted on the right-hand side of the casting 230. Themotor 384 has a split pulley 386 which drives a V-belt 388; the twoparts of the pulley are urged together by a spring (not shown). The belt388 passes round a split pulley 390 (FIG. 4), a lower part of which iskeyed to the shaft 188 at 392 and the upper part of which is keyed tothe lower part at 394. A ball bearing 396 accommodated in a cap 398 isreceived on the upper part of the pulley 390 and on the cap bears an arm400 of a bell-crank lever pivoted on a cross pin 402 supported by abracket 404 secured to the casting 230. A depending arm 406 of thebell-crank lever bears against a transverse wedge 408 slidable in achannel in the casting 230 and movable longitudinally by turning a screw410 captive in the casting and threaded longitudinally into the wedge.Thus, by turning the screw to rock the lever 400, 406, the upper part ofthe pulley can be depressed or allowed to rise (complementary adjustmentoccurring on the pulley 386 of the motor) thereby to reduce or increaserespectively the speed of rotation of the roller tool 28.

The illustrative machine comprises a trimming tool support 430 showngenerally in FIG. 10. It comprises a vertical shaft 432 mounted foraxial reciprocation in bearings 434 (FIG. 7) provided by the housing 30to which it is keyed to prevent rotation. At its lower end, the shaft432 carries a roller 436 which normally rests on a peripheral face of arotary cam 438 secured to a horizontal lay shaft 440 driven from, and atthe same speed as, the shaft 34 to which it is connected by a chain 442and sprockets 444, 446 on the shafts (FIG. 2). The cam 438 isadjustable, by means of bolts in arcuate slots in a collar, in the samemanner as the earns 88. At its upper end, the shaft 432 has secured toit a bracket 448, a split portion of which is tightened on to the shaftby a bolt 450 (FIG. 10). A yoke 452 is pivoted over an upstanding bossof the bracket by means of a horizontal pin 454. The yoke 452 is boredto provide a guideway for an arm 456 which has a flat upper surface sothat it can be secured in a longitudinally adjusted position by a screw458 threaded into the yoke. The yoke rests on an upper end of anadjusting screw 460 threaded through a projecting portion of thebracket, the yoke being urged downwardly by a pair of tension springs462. A finger 464, constituted by a cylindrical bar, is secured to thearm 456 by a coupling 466, the finger being adjustable lengthwise androtationally about its axis. An end portion of the finger has two tappedholes to receive bolts 468 by which a trimming tool, in the form of aknife blade 470, is secured to it.

When the illustrative machine is at rest, the trimming tool lies in araised position, dictated by the cam 438, a little above the level towhich the mould is raised, and in an operating cycle is allowed to fallby the cam until an arm 472 secured to the shaft 432, rests on an arm474 (FIG. 2) secured to the casting 54 by bolts (not shown); the cam 438thereafter continues to rotate, its periphery leaving a space below theroller 436. When, therefore, at the conclusion of a shaping operation,the mould M falls away from the tool 28 and the clay loses contacttherewith, the trimming tool support descends under the influence of aspring 471, the arm 472 still resting on the arm 474, until the roller436 again engages the periphery of the cam which lifts it again to itsraised position. Thus, the knife blade 470 remains in operativerelationship to the mould for a few revolutions after the shaping toolhas stopped spreading the clay, ensuring trimming of the shaped claypiece after spreading thereof has ceased. I-leightwise adjustment of thetrimming support can be effected by loosening the bolt 450. A spring(not shown) acting between the arm 472 and the housing 30 takes up anyrotational play of the shaft 432 in the bearings 434.

The illustrative machine comprises means for lubricating the profile 222of the roller shaping tool 28. Bolted to the lefthand side of thesupport 250 is a housing 480 (FIG. 11) which accommodates adouble-acting pneumatic cylinder 482 with a piston (not shown) fromwhich a piston rod 484 depends. A collar 486 secured to a lower endportion of the rod 484 supports a sleeve 488 which is free to rotate onthe collar and is siidable over a cylindrical boss 490 bolted to a lowerend wall of the housing. The sleeve 488 has a spiral slot 492 into whicha pin 494 projects from the boss 490. A collar 496 is secured to thecollar 486 above an annular lip of the sleeve 488, which is captivebetween the collars, and has a pin 498 which projects into a verticalslot 500 in the housing 480 to prevent rotation of the piston rod. Thearrangement is thus such that as the piston rod reciprocates, the sleeve488 rises and falls with a spiral movement. A torsion spring 499 actingbetween the boss 490 and the sleeve 488 constantly urges the sleeve in aclockwise direction, as viewed from above. The axis of the cylinder 482is parallel to the axis of rotation of the roller shaping tool 28.

Integral with the sleeve 488 is an arm 502 which projects through anopening 504 in the housing. At its free end, the arm carries a pin 506by which it pivotally supports an elongated base piece 508 of alubricating device 509, the piece 508 having an upper, flat, surface towhich is stuck a contoured felt pad 510. A leaf spring 512 secured tothe underside of the arm 502 constantly urging the device 509 upwardlyabout the pin 506 to an adjusted position determined by engagement ofthe base piece 508 with a stop screw 514 threaded into an upstanding lugof the arm 502 and secured by a locknut 516. In the operation of theillustrative machine, as the mould is lowered, and after the tool 28 hasrocked back to its initial, most upright position, air under pressure,admitted from a source (not shown), to the cylinder 482 below the pistonthrough a hose (not shown) under control of an adjustable cam 518 (FIG.2) on the shaft 34 causes the sleeve 488 and arm 502 to rise with aswinging movement to bring the pad 510 into contact with the profile 222of the tool 28. After the pad 510 returns to its at rest position, belowand behind the tool 28 by admission of air into the cylinder 482 abovethe piston, a few drops of oil are ejected on to the pad from noules 520(FIG. 11); ejection of such oil is effected through a hose 522 from areservoir 523 (FIG. 2) by means of a pump (not sown) actuated by a lever525 from an adjustable cam 524 on the shaft 440. A gauge 526 (FIG. 1)indicates the level of oil in the reservoir.

In setting up the illustrative machine, for example for making a dinnerplate on the mould M the moulding surface of which is about eleveninches in diameter and the profile 222 having been selected, the rollertool 28 is assembled on the supporting head. Before doing so, in orderto reduce the period which will elapse between stopping the machine andstarting it again, the profile 222, holder 198 and base portion may havebeen pre-assembled and connected to a source of electrical current tothe terminals 208 in order to raise the temperature of the profile. Insuch a case, after releasing the bolt 186 and removing the previoustool, the stub 182 of the fresh tool is inserted in the shaft 188, thetool turned so that the lug 194 is received in the recess in the flangeof the stub, and the bolt 186 threaded into the sleeve 184 andtightened, thus firmly holding the tool in place with the terminals 208and 214 (and those from the probe) in contact. Conveniently, theillustrative machine may be provided with means (not shown), for examplea swinging arm carrying a cradle which can be swung into a positionbeneath the tool 28, to receive the tool from the support 30 when it isdetached and to present a fresh one, to take the weight of the tool andthereby assist the operator in changing one tool for another.

The operator may now conveniently turn the screw 270 as necessary toadjust the height of the tool 28 so that the tip of the profile 222 isin alignment with the axis of the shaft 276. He also adjusts, asnecessary, the inclination of the axis of the tool by loosening thebolts 350 and turning the knob 3S8, thereafter re-tightening the bolts350. Adjustment or replacement of the earns 88 for lifting the mouldsupport 28 and of the cam 362 for tilting the roller tool 28 may also beeffected.

Such adjustment or replacement of the cams is primarily desirable tovary the rate of approach of the mould support to the roller tool whilethe clay is being worked and to vary the rate of tilt of the tool whilein contact with the clay, and these rates, being governed to anappreciable extent by the body of the clay, are not usually necessary ina factory where the clay supply is consistent and the tool is beingchanged for a change in size or shape of the ware to be made.

The operator may also adjust the speeds of rotation of the mould support26 (by turning the rod 145) and of the roller tool 28 by turning thescrew 410, and make any adjustment necessary of the trimming tool 470and wiper 510.

The profile 222 of the roller tool 28 having reached its operatingtemperature, the illustrative machine is now ready for a trial run.Further adjustments, following examination of the pieces of clay P aftershaping by the machine, may include fine adjustment of the distance atthe end of the shaping operation between the tool 28 and mould support26, which distance determines the thickness of the ware; such fineadjustment can be made while the illustrative machine is in operation byturning the hand wheel 314 to raise or lower the shaft 276.

With the roller tool 28 preheated, the illustrative machine can bechanged from operating on one shape of ware to another, in very muchless time than has usually been necessary with roller flatware-makingmachines hitherto, for example, in cases where replacing the cams 88 and362 is not called for, with an unproductive period of the machine oflittle more than ten minutes.

The illustrative machine is especially suitable for incorporation in anautomatic production plant. It is able to maintain a high degree ofuniformity and reliability at a high rate of output, for example twelvepieces per minute, and with a wide range of clay bodies. The housing ofthe illustrative machine, as visible in FIG. 1, is cut away at 530 sothat, if the machine is incorporated in a plant so that moulds arebrought by an upper conveyor means to the mould support 26, there isaccommodation for the passage of the trays of a lower conveyor means ofthat plant. Moreover, manual control means of the illustrative machine,including an electrical control and switch panel housing 532 mounted atthe back of the housing 20, are so arranged as to be accessible to theoperator when the illustrative machine is installed as part of such anautomatic plant with conveyor means for presenting moulds to the support26 and thereby obstructing access to the front of the illustrativemachine.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A clayware shaping machine comprising a mould support rotatable abouta vertical axis, means for raising the mould support to a uniform heightin successive operating cycles, tool supporting means including a rollershaping toolsupporting head mounted and freely rotatable on a shaft torock about an axis which lies at right angles to the axis of rotation ofthe mould support, with the said shaft having secured thereto an armoperable with cam means to rock the said shaft during operation of thesaid machine, means for securing the head to said arm in adjustedposition about the axis of the shaft, guide means on which the toolsupporting means is mounted for up and down adjustment, and readilyaccessible means for effecting adjustment of the tool supporting means'whereby the thickness of a piece of clay to be spread on the mould canbe changed while the machine is in operation by adjustment of theheightwise position of the tool supporting means.

2. A machine according to claim 1 in which the means under the controlof which the mould support is raised comprises a cam which determinesthe limit of approach of a mould towards the tool in the operation ofthe machine 3. A machine according to claim 2 in which the cam comprisesa part-annular portion secured by a bolt-and-arcuateslot arrangement toa collar on a shaft of the machine whereby said portion can be readilyad'usted about the axis of the shaft and etached from the shaft orreplacement by another such portion.

4. A machine according to claim 1 comprising a worm and gear sector foreffecting relative adjustment of the tool-supporting head and said armabout the axis of the shaft of the tool supporting means.

5. A machine according to claim 1 in which the tool-supporting headcomprises a slide portion which is received in a guide portion of saidhead to provide for adjustment of the head in the direction of the axisof rotation of the tool.

6. A machine according to claim 5 wherein said shaping tool-supportinghead includes a shaft having an axial recess at one end to accommodate aconical stub of a roller shaping tool, the shaft having also an axialbore therethrough to accommodate a bolt which is threaded onto the stubto secure the tool to the shaft.

7. A machine according to claim 6 in which in addition to the stub andrecess, a lug and recess interconnection is provided between the shaftand tool to ensure that rotary motion is transmitted to the tool whenthe shaft is driven.

8. A machine according to claim 1 wherein the tool supporting meanssupports a roller shaping tool for the manufacture of flatware.

9. A machine according to claim 1 comprising a ware shaping trimmingtool support mounted to hold a tool supported thereby in position totrim surplus clay from the periphery of a piece of clay on a mould as itis spread thereon in a cycle of operation of the machine, the trimmingtool support being mounted with provision for up and down movement, andmeans being provided whereby, at the conclusion of a shaping operationon a piece of clay, when a mould carried by the mould support is loweredaway from the shaping tool, the trimming tool moves down with the mouldwhile remaining in its trimming position relative thereto, to ensurethat the shaped piece of clay is trimmed round its periphery afterspreading has ceased.

10. A machine according to claim 9 in which the mould support has an armon which the trimming tool support rests when the mould support islowered away from the shaping tool at the conclusion of a shapingoperation in the cycle of operation of the machine.

1. A clay-ware shaping machine comprising a mould support rotatableabout a vertical axis, means for raising the mould support to a uniformheight in successive operating cycles, tool supporting means including aroller shaping tool-supporting head mounted and freely rotatable on ashaft to rock about an axis which lies at right angles to the axis ofrotation of the mould support, with the said shaft having securedthereto an arm operable with cam means to rock the said shaft duringoperation of the said machine, means for securing the head to said armin adjusted position about the axis of the shaft, guide means on whichthe tool supporting means is mounted for up and down adjustment, andreadily accessible means for effecting adjustment of the tool supportingmeans whereby the thickness of a piece of clay to be spread on the mouldcan be changed while the machine is in operation by adjustment of theheightwise position of the tool supporting means.
 2. A machine accordingto claim 1 in which the means under the control of which the mouldsupport is raised comprises a cam which determines the limit of approachof a mould towards the tool in the operation of the machine.
 3. Amachine according to claim 2 in which the cam comprises a part-annularportion secured by a bolt-and-arcuate-slot arrangement to a collar on ashaft of the machine whereby said portion can be readily adjusted aboutthe axis of the shaft and detached from the shaft for replacement byanother such portion.
 4. A machine according to claim 1 comprising aworm and gear sector for effecting relative adjustment of thetool-supporting head and said arm about the axis of the shaft of thetool supporting means.
 5. A machine according to claim 1 in which thetool-supporting head comprises a slide portion which is received in aguide portion of said head to provide for adjustment of the head in thedirection of the axis of rotation of the tool.
 6. A machine according toclaim 5 wherein said shaping tool-supporting head includes a shafthaving an axial recess at one end to accommodate a conical stub of aroller shaping tool, the shaft having also an axial bore therethrough toaccommodate a bolt which is threaded onto the stub to secure the tool tothe shaft.
 7. A machine according to claim 6 in which in addition to thestub and recess, a lug and recess interconnection is provided betweenthe shaft and tool to ensure that rotary motion is transmitted to thetool when the shaft is driven.
 8. A machine according to claim 1 whereinthe tool supporting means supports a roller shaping tool for themanufacture of flatware.
 9. A machine according to claim 1 comprising aware shaping trimming tool support mounted to hold a tool supportedthereby in position to trim surplus clay from the periphery of a pieceof clay on a mould as it is spread thereon in a cycle of operation ofthe machine, the trimming tool support being mounted with provision forup and down movement, and means being provided whereby, at theconclusion of a shaping operation on a piece of clay, when a mouldcarried by the mould support is lowered away from the shaping tool, thetrimming tool moves down with the mould while remaining in its trimmingposition relative thereto, to ensure that the shaped piece of clay istrimmed round its periphery after spreading has ceased.
 10. A machineaccording to claim 9 in which the mould support has an arm on which thetrimming tool support rests when the mould support is lowered away fromthe shaping tool at the conclusion of a shaping operation in the cycleof operation of the machine.